Golf Tips and Information

Western saddles are definitely heavier than most other saddles, ranging from 30 pounds for an average saddle to 60 pounds and sometimes more for a working saddle. Western saddles are heavy for a reason. They’re sturdy and durable, and they’re more comfortable for the rider – and the horse as well.

Many question how comfortable a horse can be carrying a western saddle on its back. The consideration of the horse’s feelings is nice, but honestly, a horse that weighs 1,100 pounds isn’t going to notice much difference between a 30-pound saddle and a 60-pound saddle.

What the horse will notice, however, is how that weight is distributed over its back. A saddle with more surface area in contact with the back will spread the weight of saddle and rider over a larger area. The better the saddle weight distribution, the more comfortable the horse will be and the more weight he can carry.